Funding opportunity

Blue Skies Concept Notes 2014

Purpose

The Blue Skies Research Funding Instrument can be described as multi-dimensional self-initiated, curiosity-driven inquiry that necessitates high investment risks, addresses new phenomena, as well as push the frontiers of knowledge. Blue Skies-type of research is associated with fundamental and basic research programmes.

The objectives of the Blue Skies Funding Instrument are:
- To provide space and time for research to push the frontiers of knowledge and to encourage imagination through scientific and scholarly endeavours;
-To support and sustain communities of critical and free thinkers;
-To promote and encourage diversity in research for re-imagining disciplines or academies;
- To bring about new and unpredictable scientific / technological / scholarly discoveries / interpretations / understandings / knowledge                   

UP Internal
Deadline

19 November 2013

Type of funding

Successful Concept Notes will be funded for one year only to a maximum of R 200,000 each - applicants will be informed in February 2014. (After one year of funding some of the Concept Notes may be selected to submit a full proposal and be evaluated for 3 years of funding. Selected Concept Notes will be invited in February 2015)

Eligibility

Only researchers based at public research institutions that are recognised by directive of the Minister of Science and Technology are eligible to apply as the principal investigator.

Their affiliation must be either as:
• Full-time employees
• Part-time employees on cotract but on condition that the appointment is for (at least) the duration of the project applied for in the submission. Salaries must be paid by the research institution and the primary employment of the individual concerned must be at that institution.

Retired researchers provided that:
• there is proof of institutional support in the form of an employment contract, office space, administrative support, access to research equipment and space. The institution will have to ensure that a minimum of six months are spent at the facility for the purpose of research and research capacity development.
• the researcher must have a research publication track record and must be actively supervising postgraduate students at present.

Applications

Applications should be submitted electronically on the NRF Online Submission System

Other links

Website

UP Contact & DA

Mrs Didi Botes
Research Support;
Graduate Centre Room 1-96
Tel: (012) 420-2871
[email protected]

NRF Contact

Ms Mmamokete Mabuela
Grant Officer
Tel: (012) 481-4088
Email: [email protected]